Officials investigate TV interview with Falconio's killer

Bradley John Murdoch was sentenced to life with a non-parole period of 28 years.

ABC TV

The Northern Territory Department of Justice says it is investigating how a journalist was able to broadcast an interview with the killer of British backpacker Peter Falconio.

Channel Seven's Sunday Night program broadcast audio from inside the Alice Springs jail of Bradley Murdoch, who was convicted of killing Mr Falconio in 2001.

He was sentenced to life with a non-parole period of 28 years.

In what has been seen as one of Australia's most intriguing murder cases, Murdoch has always maintained his innocence and Mr Falconio's body has never been found.

Interviewing prisoners is against the law in the Northern Territory, but the program broadcast a conversation between Murdoch and lawyer Andrew Fraser in which Murdoch says he believes Mr Falconio is still alive.

The department says it is investigating the matter and will also be looking at the implications for Murdoch's future contact with Mr Fraser.

Mr Falconio and his former girlfriend Joanne Lees were driving around Australia in a van and had been heading towards Tennant Creek along the Stuart Highway when Ms Lees said they were attacked.

She emerged from scrubland near Barrow Creek, 300 kilometres north of Alice Springs, and flagged down a truck for help.